This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.

Sweet Potato: Sweet Potato

Carolina Ruby

Sweet Potatoes are commonly used in the same way as Pumpkins and Winter Squash, but they are much easier to prepare. They are commonly used for "Pumpkin" pie commercially and at home in the kitchen. Sweet potatoes are classified by their flesh as either moist or dry.

Basics

Sweet Potatoes are very tender and any frost will kill the tops. If an early fall frost threatens, it pays to protect them with straw mulch, cloches, or even plastic sheets. This is extra work, but you may be rewarded with several more weeks of growing weather. The large plants grow rapidly towards the end, so there can be a big benefit in leaving them in the ground for as long as possible. When a hard frost threatens, dig the tubers immediately. Don't wait too long as any damage to the tubers will affect their storability.

Sweet Potatoes absolutely must have warm soil. Don't plant them out until the soil is at least 65˚ F and nighttime temperature drops no lower than 60˚ F. If you have to gain extra time, warm up the soil with black plastic.

Established plants are quite drought tolerant, but the soil should be kept evenly moist for best productivity (and especially while they are young). Don't over-water though, as too much water encourages foliage growth at the expense of root growth. If water is in short supply you can cut back on watering when the plants are well established and just water them when the soil gets dry.

Like most root crops they need phosphorus (add colloidal phosphate) and potassium (add greensand or wood ashes). They don't need a lot of nitrogen, as it encourages the growth of foliage rather than roots (and can result in inferior roots).

For some gardeners, growing Sweet Potatoes in containers is more practical. If you have clay soil that doesn't drain well, using mix and a pot with adequate drainage will be better than planting in your garden. Additionally, you can move containers into the sun, giving plants warmer growing conditions. If growing in a container, plant 3 slips in a container that is at least 18" in diameter.

Attracts beneficial insects?

No

Color

Ruby

Fruit Size

4.0-8.0"

Plant Height

12.0-24.0"

Plant Diameter

36.0-60.0"

Hardiness Zone

7-11

Disease Resistance

Taste Profile

Slightly sweet, good in savory dishes and mixed mashes. Tastes similar to Yams, Winter Squash, Pumpkins.

Tricia shows you how to build a variety of quick and easy vegetable trellises. Garden vertically this year, trellis tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, beans, and peas.

Legend

Start Indoors

Transplant

Start Outdoors

Care

Harvest

Succession plant

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